Suction box for pulp and paper machines



Dec, 29, 1931. J. A. DICKINSON 1,838,988

v SUCTION BOX FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES I Filed May 25, 1931 -6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 29, 1931.

,1. A. DICKINSON SUCTION BOX FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES Filed May 25, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fills/2MP JW] -Dec. 29,1931. J. 'A.- DICKINSON 1,838,988

' SUCTION Box FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES Fi led May 2 1.951 5 a Sheets-Sheet 5 Ueu 28, 1931. DICKINSON 1,838,988

SUCTION BOX FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES Filed May 25, 1981 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 29, 1931. I J. A DICKINSON 8,

SUCTION BOX FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES Filed May 25, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 29, 1931. A, I S N I 1,838,988

SUCTION BOX FOR PULP AND PAPER MACHINES Filed May 2 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Dec. 2 9, 1931 J'OHN ARTHUR DICKINSON, 01 SMOOTH ROCK FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA.

sucrron BOX ms PULP am) rarnn macnmns Application filed May 25, 1931, Serial No. 539,908, and in Canada May 6, i981.

This invention relates to improvements in suction boxes for pulp and paper machines with more particular reference to that type in which the felt or wire of the paper making 5 machine in its passage over the suction box is supported upon a rolling support and the primary. object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for such suction boxes whereby certain undesirable features of suc- I To provide an improved form of roller top suction box which may be applicable to boxes having two or more parallel spaced apart rollers forming the wire or felt supporting medium at the top of the box. I

To permit the successful use of smaller rollers than have hitherto been possible with a consequent reduction in the cost of manu facture.

To provide an improved manner of mounting and supporting the rollers within the suction box whereby they may be made of greatly reduced diameter and of shorter length than hitherto.

To provide a novel and improved construction whereby the rollers are supported not only in bearings at the ends thereof, as hitherto, but intermediately of their length as well. 1

To provide an improved form of journal bearing for each roller whereby it is given the length, thus practically eliminating all bending moment therein and overcoming the tendency for the roller or rollers to deflect under load.

d To provide an improved construction whereby a rolling supporting element for the felt or wire is provided across the entire width thereof such that this rolling support is in the nature of a number of axlally aligned, end abutting, independently rotataefiective bearing support throughout its enble roller sections each extending over a portion only of the width of the wire or felt and each supported throughout its length.

To provide a novel and improved suction box construction in which the top is entirely open with the exception of the spaced'apart rollers which constitute the wire or felt supporting medium at the top of the box.

To provide an improved manner of lubricating the rollers.

To provide an im roved form of journal bearing for supporting the rollers throughout their length and to incorporate therewith an improved system of lubrication whereby lubricating liquid is automatically fed underpressure to the bearing surface thereof so as to rovide thereover a film upon which the rol er freely rides.

To provide an improved form of bearing for the rollers such that, while an effective bearing is provided for the under side of each roller throughout its entire length, the upper portion of the periphery of the roller is exposed to provide a rolling support for the wire or felt.

To provide a novel form of tubular journal bearing forthe rollers, the upper portion of each tubular bearing being cut away so that an arc of the roller projects therethrough the roller being insertable through the en of the tubular bearing. v

To incorporate with the features mentioned in the preceding paragraph a novel manner of sealing the end of the tubular bearings and retaining the rollers therein. To reduce frictional'resistance in the operation of the suction box to a minimum.

To provide with a roller type suction box,

an endless deckle belt or'strap at each side of the box and operable between the rollers and the felt or wire, which belts or straps are adjustable-transversely of the box to suit various widths of sheet being passed there-- over.

To provide a suction box which may be built up of sheet metal or may be of cast metal construction.

To improve the construction of the suction box whereby a maximum effective suction area 1s obtained. 1

taneous suction impulses as is ordinarily the case.

To rovide a suction box in which the wire or fel t travelling thereover is subjected to effective and practically continuous suction during its entire travel over the box, so that the maximum amount of water is removed therefrom, the design and construction of the box being such that it may be applied to boxes of practically any length whereby the length of the box may be extended as desired to obtain practically any desired degree of dryness in the sheet, within reasonable limits, before the sheet passes from the suction box to the presses.

To enable a greater quantity of water to be removed by the suction box, or in other words to carry the drying to a further degree in the wet end of the machine, thus greatly assisting in sheet formation and in the production of a stronger sheet.

To permit the feeding of a drier sheet to the presses, thus reducing the work of the presses in water removal and enabhng a reduction in the number of presses required.

To obtain an increased dryness of the sheet enteringthe dryers with a consequent reduction in the amount of steam required to complete the drying operation therein and, as a result, effecting an important economy.

To provide an improved section box which, while involving only simple and inexpensive construction, will yet be thoroughly practical andcapable of wide ap lication and which may be incorporated in oxes of practically any desired size.

The invention consists essentiallylilp a suction box for pulp and paper mac es constructed and arranged, all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accom anying drawings in which,

Figure 1 1s a transverse vertical section through a multiple roll'er suction box constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a deckle arrangement forming part of the present invention being omitted.

Figure 2 is a similar section, to a larger scale, the intermediate portion of the box' being broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of one side of a suction box constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing a deckle ar rangement of the present invention in position thereon.

Figure 7 is a lon 'tudinal vertical section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fi ure 6.

igure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fi ure 6. I

igure 10 is a vertical section through a suction box constructed in accordance with the present invention in which only two parallel spaced apart rollers are used.

Figure 11 is an end elevation showing a suction box constructed in accordance with a modified form of the present invention, the box being broken away .intermediately to economize space.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12 to a larger scale. s

Figure 14 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, to a larger scale, approximately on the line 1414 of Figure 12.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

Suction boxes as used at the present time in pulp and paper machines are mainly of two types, name y the flat top suction box and the rotary suction box. The flat top suction box is merely a box with a flat cover of wood or other suitable material, which top is provided with a longitudinal slot or slots across the width of the machine. During the operation of the machine the felt or wire travels across the cover of the box and, due to suction existing within the box, the water is drawn therefrom through the slots in the cover of the box.

This type of box has one very objectionable feature which is the excessive wear of the felt or wire due to the friction existing between the wire or felt and the top of the box, which friction is not only due to the weight of the felt or wire but is very materially increased due to the pressure with which the felt or wire is drawn against the top of the box by'the suction existing, thus resulting in very excessive wear not only of the felt or wire but also of the top f the box.

In the rotary type of suction box the principle of operation is similar to that of the flat top box except that in this case the slot in the top of the box is widened to accommodate a roll which roll is carried in bearings at each end thereof and is driven by the felt or wire as it travels over the box; This type of box has the advantage over the fiat top type in that the engagement of the wire or felt with the box is transformed from sliding or rubbing contact to rolling contact so that'the frictional wear is greatly reduced and the operation is therefore much easier on the felt or wire with less wear thereof and a consequently increased useful life.

A serious disadvantage of the latter type of box 'is that, due to the great width of present day machines, the width of the suction boxes used therewith is very considerable, thus involving the use of a-roll of great len h and in order for such a roll to resist de ection, when carrying the weight of the felt or wire and sheet, it is necessary that a roll of very large diameter be used, which involves a very heavy and expensive construction both of the roll itself and of the suction box .as a whole.

Suction boxes of the two types above mentioned possess other disadvantageous features in addition to those mentioned, one of which is that the'eife'ctive suction width is usually very narrow with the result that the application of vacuum to the sheet passing thereover is more or less instantaneous. This is sometimes improved by the installation of a series of suction boxes placed close together but this does not satisfactorily overcome the trouble, as even in this case the application of suction is still only instantaneous though possibly more frequent.

In the removal of water by suction or vacuum, it is a well recognized fact that the time factor involved is of the utmost importance. This can be readily demonstrated by squeezing a sponge quickly and releasing quickly as compared with a prolonged steady squeeze. It will be found that much more water will be removed by the latter method than the former. The former method is analogous to the present type of suction box, while the latter is analogous to the improved type of suction box as contemplated in the present invention.

In carrying out-the present invention it may be applied in various ways and incorporated in various forms of suction boxes including, for instance, a suction box involving a welded'sheet metalconstru'ction or a box involving a cast metal construction. The application of the present invention to a suction box employing the former, viz.,a sheet metal construction, is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, while its application to. a suction box emplo ing a cast metal construc tion is illustrate in Figures 11 to ,14 inelusive.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 will first be dethe side members 11 which'form the-ends and sidesof'the box respectively and are-closed in at the bottom by a bottom plate 12 so that the members 10, 11 and 12 form a box closed in at the sides, ends and bottom. and open at box are made of reduced the to a In other words, they form an open toppe box.

Extending across the width of the box are a plurality of spaced apart parallel web members 13 which extend into proximity to the open top of the box and constitute supporting members for journal bearings, as will presently be explained. I

Along the upper edges of each of the end plates 10 and of each of the web members 13 is a journal bearin 14 which is of tubular form and is adapte to provide a bearing for the rollers 15, which may be ofhard rubber or other suitable material. These journal bearings are of tubular formation and extend the full width of the box and are provided with open ends so that the rollers 15 may be inserted endwise thereinto. Further, these bearings 14 are cut away over their 'upper portions so that they embrace a lower arc of each roller 15 exceeding 180, thus leaving an upper arc of each roller projecting above the bearings. In other words, the bearings 14 embrace a lower major arc of each roller 15, while an 11 per minor arc of each roller projects above the bearing.

The web members 13 are cut away as at 16 I at the bottoms thereof to permit free passage of water through the box and to permit suction to be exerted throughout the box and the thickness of these web members 13 is made suflicient to support the weight to which they are subjected in operation due to the weight of the rollers, 15 and theload of the felt or wire supported b these rollers.

To further stiffen an strengthen the web members 13, there are provided stiifenin webs 17 extending between adjacent we) members 13.

The side plates 11 formin each side of the eight, reaching only to the bottom of each bearing 14, as will be clearly noted in Figure 2, which provision is necessary to permit endwise insertion of the rollers 15 into the bearings 14.

The members 10,11 and 12 and the web "members 13 and 17 might be of sheet metal and would be suitably welded together to form a unitary box structure.

The construction above described, it will be noted, forms a suction box from sheet material, in which the web members 13 extendingin parallel spaced relation transversely of the box constitute bearing su porting members upon which are carried tlie tubular journal bearings 14 which bearings constitute journal bearings extending the full .width of the box adjacent to the open top thereof.

Communicating with the bottom 12 of the box are one or more suction pipes 18 which would lead to any suitable source of suction. As stated previously, the web members 13 are cut away at 16 over the bottom portion thereof so that the suction pipes 18 communicate with all portions of the box. The webs 17 do not extend to the bottom of the box but are spaced upwardly therefrom to leave openings 19 between the lower edges of these webs and the bottom of the box. It will thus be seen that the web members 13 and 17 divide the suction box into a plurality of communicating compartments, all of which compartments are in communication with the suction pipes 18 so that when suction is exerted through these pipes it is communicated to all parts of the box.

The suction box as above described may besupported in housings or brackets 20 of the form shown, which are in the nature of chairs within which the box seats as shown. These supporting brackets 20 are formed with an upper flat surface 21 which is substantially level with the bottom of the bearings 14 so that, when the box is mounted in position within the brackets 20, the open ends of these bearings are uncovered so as to permit insertion thercinto of the rollers 15. These rollers may be of any suitable material such, for instance, as hard rubber, and in the form illustrated comprise a series of independent roller sections. A number of these roller sections 15 are inserted endwise into each journal bearing 14 through the open end thereof and are so positioned therein that the ends of adjacent roller sections are in abutment and together the sections in any one of the bearings 14 unite to form a rolling element extending the full width of the suction box.

The rollers 15, after being positioned within the bearings 14, are retained in position therein by flat closure strips 22 which may be of hard wood or other suitable substance and are secured upon the flat surface 21 of the bracket 20 by means of bolts 23. The closure strips 22 extend longitudinally of the box and abut against the open ends of the bearings 14 and the outer ends of the end roller sections 15 and constitute not only means for retaining the roller sections in position within the bearings 14 but also seal the vends thereof. These strips 22 extend the full length of the box and each one abuts against the corresponding ends of all the bearings 14. The flat upper surface ofeach closure strip 22 is substantially level or flush with the top of the rollers 15.

The roller sections 15, as previously explained, each extend over a portion of the width only of the box so that in each bearing 14 there are a lurality of independently rotatable, end a utting, axially aligned roller sections, which sections are an easy running fit in the bearings and will be efficiently lubricated by water coming from the sheet travelling thereover.

The wire or felt of the paper machine is indicated by the numeral 24 and in its passage over the box is supported upon the rollers 15, the outer side portions of the wire or felt 24 overlying the closure strips 22.

The suction box may be made of an desired length and any desired number 0 parallel bearings 14 with their rollers 15 may be provided. As the wire 24 with its sheet thereon passes over the box, by means of suction exerted-through the pipes 18, effective suction is established throughout all portions of the box and due to the nature of the roller construction, this suction is effectively exerted over the entire open top of the box with the exception of the very small contact areas between the rollers and wire or felt.

The rollers are shown as made up of a number of short lengths and while this is the preferable construction, these might be made so that the roller in each bearing 14 was in one length and it is intended that such a construction will fall within the scope of the present invention, although, as stated, the de sired form is to make these rollers in short lengths.

A very important feature of the present invention is that, due to the manner of supporting the rollers 15, they are relieved of all bending stress. As previously stated, in former constructions the rollers used in suction boxes were journalled in end bearings only so that there was a very considerable bending moment in the roller. According to the improved construction, however, the roller is provided with a journal bearin extending entirely throughout its lengt so that it is effectively supported throughout its length and is under no bending strain whatever with the result that rollers of very small diameter may be employed.

An advantage of making the rollers in short sections is that in the event of any one roller section becoming for any reason jammed so that it would not rotate, only this section would be affected, all other sections continuing to rotate in the ordinary way and thus any possible increase in frictional resistance would be minimized.

In the improved suction box, therefore, it will be noted that there is provided a plurality of spaced apart,-journal bearings extending in parallelism transversely across the box and in each of these journal bearings is journalled a plurality of independently rotatable, axially aligned, end abuttin roller sections, the rollers projecting a ve the hearings to provide an efiicient rolling support for the felt or wire passing thereover. In order to provide for accommodating varying widths of sheet, the improved deckle arrangement shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, is provided and in these views the arr-rangement is shown applied to the form of box illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

Secured to each end of the bracket 20 is a bracket 25 carrying bearings 26 and journalled within these hearings is a shaft 27 iso team.

which carries a hand wheel 28. The shaft 27 is threaded and the hand wheel 28 has threaded engagement thereon. f Carried by the free end of each shaft 27 is a double flanged pulley 29 riding freely upon the shaft, and mounted loosely upon these pulleys 29 is an endless flexible belt 30, of rubber or other suitable material, which belt 30 rides between the rollers 15 and the wire 24 and is of such width that it overlies the junction of the closure strips 22 with the ends of the bearings 14. By means of the hand wheels 28 the pulleys 29 may be adjusted transversely of the box, i. e., longitudinally of the rollers 15, so that the deckle belt 30 may be adjusted longitudinally of the rollers. The upper reach of the belt 30 passes between the rollers 15 and the wire 24 while the lower reach hangs below the box, as illustrated in Figure 7. It will of course be understood that this deckle belt arrangement is duplicated at each side of the box. These belts 30 thus constitute travelling flexible bearing members which overlie the junction of the closure strips 22 with the rollers 15 and are adjustable longitudinally of the rollers to vary the eflective suction weight of the box to accommodate it to different widths of sheet being dried thereon. The width of each of the deckle belts 30 is such that, when adjusted to its innermost .position to accommodate the narrowest sheet, the belts will still overlie the junction of the closure strips 22 with the bearing ends and form an eflective sealing means therefor.

In Figure 10 is shown a form of suction box constructed in accordance with the-present invention, in which only two spaced apart parallel rollers are employed. The construction in this case is practically the same as that already described except that the intermediate web members 13 which carry the intermediate journal bearings are omitted and only the end members of the box are required to provide the two parallel supporting members and journal bearings.

The operation of this form is identical with that of the multiple roller type already described and, as illustrated, the ends 10' are inclined to widen out the bottom 12 to accommodate the suction pipe 18.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the eculiar arrangement of spaced apart, paral el, journal bearings 14 extending contmuously across the box in which are fitted the roller sections 15 in such a way that they are given bearing support throughout their entire length and therefore relieved of all bending stress. 1

A further feature of the present invention is that the maximum suction efi'ect is obtained'and that the suction exerted'is of a more nearly continuous nature, extending over practically the entire open top of the box with the exception of the very limited portions of contact of the rollers with the 1 In the suction box, as illustrated, all the web sections 13 have been shown as cut away at 16, but if desired every alternate web section could be made solid in which case the suction box would be divided into a number of independent sections and it would be possible to provide for varying the suction over the length of the box so as to permit a gradual increase in the suction applied towards the dry end of the box.

It will also be apparent that the present invention will readily lend itself to ap 1i cation to a box of any desired length so t at practically any desired degree of dryness may be obtained in the sheet before passing beyond the box. The rollers 15, will be lubricated by water passing thereinto from the sheet. The deckle belts 30 will be driven by contact with the wire 24.

In Figures 11 to 14 inclusive is shown a modified form of the present invention in which it is applied to a cast metal construction. The general construction and opera.- tion of this modification is very similar to that already described but in this case the box instead of being built up of sheet metal sections welded together is in the nature of cast metal sections. It might be possible to cast the box in one section but in the lar e sizes of boxes now used it would preferab ybe cast in a number of sections.

In this construction, the box is built up of cast sections comprising side sections 31 and intermediate sections 32, there being as many intermediate sections as may be necessary to provide thedesired width of box. In thisconstruction the individual sections 31 and.32 are provided with lugs 33 andv are bolted together to form the box, the assembled box eing supported in any suitable manner as bers 13, of the previously mentioned form are I replaced by web members, 37 which mem rs extend across the width of one section only, beingconnected at the ends of the section by 'stifiening webs 38, which webs really form the end of the respective sections. The webs 37 and 38 do not extend entirely to the bottom of the section so that an open space 39 is left at the bottom of each section and, when the sections are assembled together to form the complete box, these open spaces 39 come into registration and form an open portion at the bottom of the box extending the entire width of the box and communicating from one seetion to the other so that, as in the construction previously described, the box in this form also contains a plurality of communicating C0111- partments. The suction pipes 36 communicate with this space 39 at the side sections 31.

p The web members 37 are to all intents and purposes the exact equivalent of the web members 13 of the previous construction and have formed, along their upper edges, journal bearings 40 for the rollers of exactly the same nature as the journal bearings 14 already described. In this case, these journal bearings 40 also embrace a lower major are of the roller sections 15 so that an upper minor arc thereof projects above the bearings. The arrangement and disposition of the webs 37 is such that the bearings 40 formed along the upper edges thereof are adjacent to the open top of the box and the journal bearings 40 in the respective box sections 31 and 32 are in axial alignment so that they form a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, journal bearings each extending continuously transversely across the entire width of the box The construction in this form is also such that the ends of these journal bearings 40 are open to permit endwise insertion of the roller sections 15 thereinto and in fact the engagement, manner of mounting, and o eration of these roller sections 15 in their ear ings 40 in this form of the invention are identical with that already described. Also the provision of the closure strips 41 is identical with that of the closure strips 22 already described, these closure strips 41 closing the open ends of the journal bearings 40, retaining the roller sections 15 therein and sealing the ends thereof. The closure strips 41 are supported upon the box sections 31 and are secured by bolts 42.

In orderto avoid complication in the drawings, the deckle belt arrangement is not included in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 but its application to this form would be the same as that to the previously described form.

The entire operation of this form shown in Figures 11 to 14 follows that of the construction already described and it possesses the same features of advantage as that form, the only difference being such changes in construction'as have been necessary to adapt the invention to a cast metal construction.

In the form illustrated in Figures 11 to 14 inclusive is shown a novel and improved provision for lubricating the rollers according to which each of the web members 37 is provided with a channel 43 extending longitudinally the entire length of each of the journal bearings 40. The side sections 31 are provided with channels 44 extending the entire length of the section and comunicating with the end of each of'the channels 43 through ports 45. Communicating with each of the channels 44 is one end of a water supply pipe 49 the other end of each of the pipes 49 being su merged below the level of the water in a water supply tank 46, which tanks are below the level of the suction box, the water level in these tanks being maintained by water supply pipes 47 and overflow pipes 48. The construction and operation is such that the suction established within the box through the main suction pipes 36 serves to draw water from the tanks 46 through the pipes 49 upwardl into the channels 44 from which it is fed t rough the ports 45 into the channels 43 of the bearings 40, the suction being operative to draw this water from the channels 44 into the journal bearings 40 to eifectively lubricate the rollers therein and to provide a film of water within these hearings upon which the roller sections 15 freely roll. The suction drawing this water for lubrication purposes acts through the running clearance etween the rollers 15 and the journal bearings 40. The pressure with which this lubricating water is su plied is equivalent to the negative pressure ac to the vacuum existing and maintains practically a balanced condition on the rolls. No water can escape at the outside rolls as there is no vacuum at this point to pull it over. I On the other hand the outer edges of the outside bearings are sealed against air leakage by a small pond of water which will accumulate in the clearance between the rollers and the bearings" at this point due to this water being carried over by the roll or dropping down from the sheet.

This improved lubricating system has been illustrated and described in connection with the cast metal box construction but it could be applied to other constructions as well.

The position of the suction box when in operative position in the paper making machine is such that the rollers 15 extend transversely of the sheet, i. e. transversely of the machine, the sheet travelling longitudinally of the machine. Therefore in the foregoing specification the rollers are described as extending transversely of the suction box, the length of the box being considered as measured in a direction per endicular to the rollers. For instance, t e rollers are described as extending transversely of the box and the closure strips 22 and 41 are described as extending longitudinally of-the box.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides valuable improvements in suction boxes for pulp and paper machines whereby the objects set forth have been attained.

Various modifications maybe made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a suction box for paper making machines, the combination with the box, of a roller mounted therein and journalled intermediately of its length.

2. In a suction box for paper making machines, the combination with the box, of a roller mounted therein, and supporting journal bearing means for the roller co-extensive with its length.

3. In a suction box for paper making machines, the combination with the box, of a roller mounted therein, and supporting journal bearing means for the roller embracing an intermediate portion of the length of the roller over an arc of its circumference;

4:. In a suction box for paper making machines, the combination with the box, of a roller mounted therein, and supporting journal bearing means for the roller co-extensive with its length and embracing the roller over an arc of its circumference.

5. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open topthereof, and a roller journalled in said journal bearing.

6. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open top thereof, and a roller journalled throughout its length in said journal bearing. said bearing embracing an arc of the circumference of the roller.

7. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open' top thereof, a roller journalled throughout its length in said bearing, said bearing embracing an arc of the circumference of the roller, at least one end of the hearing being open to permit endwise insertion of the roller thereinto, and closure means abutting thereagainst adapted to retain the roller in position therein.

8. In a suction box for papermaking machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open top thereof, a roller journalled throughout its length in said bearing, said bearing embracing an arc of the -circumference of the roller, at least one. end of'the hear ing being open topermit endwise insertion ofthe rollerthereinto, closure means abut 9. In a suction box for paper making ma- Cl11nes,sa1d box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open top thereof, a roller ournalled throughout its length in said bearing, said bearing embracing an arc of the circumferen cc of the roller, the bearing being provided with a lubricating channel extending longitudinally thereof and intersecting the bearing surface thereof, and liquid supply means communicating with said channel.

10. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the b0x.of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adj acent to the open top thereof, a plurality of independently rotatable, axially aligned, roller sections, each section being journalled throughout its length in said bearing.

'11. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open top thereof, a plurality of independently rotatable, axially aligned roller sections journalled throughout their lengths in said bearing, the ends of adjacent roller sections being in abutment, said bearing embracing an arc of the circumference of each roller, at least one end of the bearing being open to permit endwise insertion of the roller sections thereinto, closure means abutting there against adapted to retain the roller sections in positiontherein, and sealing means overlying the bearing ends and closure means, said sealing means comprising an endless traveling flexible belt, and means for adjusting said belt longitudinally of the bearing.

.12. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box' having an open top, the combination with the box, of a journal bearing extending transversely of the box adjacent to the open top thereof, a plurality of independentlyrotatable,axially aligned, roller sections journalled throughout their lengths in said bearing, the ends of adjacent roller sections being inabutment, said bearing embracing an arc of thecircumference of each roller, at least one end of the bearing being open to permit endwise insertion of the roller sections thereinto, closure means abutting thereagainst adapted to retain the roller sections in position-therein, sealing means overlying the bearing ends and closure means, the bearing provided with a lubricating channel extendinglongitudinally thereof and intersecting the bearing surface thereof, and liquid supply means communicating w1th said channel.

13. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a plurality of spaced apart parallel journal bearings extending transversely across the box adjacent to the open top thereof, and rollers ournalled in said bearings.

14. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination-with the box, of a plurality of spaced apart journal bearings extending in parallelism. transversely across the box adjacent to the open top thereof, and rollers 'ournalled throughout their lengths in said earings.

15. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an 0 en top, the combination with the box, of a p urality of spaced apart journal bearings extending in parallelism transversely across the box adjacent to the open top thereof, rollers journalled throughout their lengths in said bearings,

, said bearings embracing an arc of the circumfrrence of each roller, at least one end of each hearing being open to permit endwise roller insertion, and closure means abutting thereagainst adapted to retain the rollers in position therein.

16. In a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a plurality of spaced apart journal bearings extending in parallelism transversely across the box adjacent to the open top thereof, and a plurality of independently rotatable, axially aligned, roller sections ournalled throughout their lengths in each of said bearings.

17.111 a suction box for paper making machines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a plurality of spaced apart journal bearings extending in parallelism transversely-across the box ad-.

jacent to the open top thereof, a pluralit of independently rotatable, axially aligne roller sections journalled throughout their lengths in each of said bearings, the ends of adjacent roller sections in a bearing being in abutment, said bearings embracing an arc of the circumference of each roller whereby an upper portion of each roller projects above the bearing, at least one end of each bearing being open to permit endwise insertion of the roller sections thereinto, closure means abutting thereagainst adapted to retain the roller sections in position therein, sealing means overlying the closure means and hearing ends, said sealing means comprising an endless travelling belt, and means foradusting said belt longitudinally of the bearmgs.

chines, said box having an open top, the combination with the box, of a plurality of spaced apart journalbearings extending in parallelism transversely across the box adjacent to the open top thereof, rollers journalled 18. In a suction box for paper making ma throughout their lengths in said bearings, said bearings embracing a lower arc of the circumference of each roller whereby an upper arc of each roller projects above the bearing, each bearing formed with a longitudinal channel intersecting the bearing surface thereof, and liquid supply means communicating with said channels.

19. A suction box for paper making machines comprising in combination, an enclosed box having an open top, a suction pipe communicating with said box, a plurality of spaced a art parallel bearing supporting web mem ers extending transversely of the box, stiffening Web members extending between adjacent transverse web members, a journal bearing along the upper edge of each transverse web member extending the entire length thereof and disposed adjacent to the open top of the box, and rollers journalled throughout their length in said bearings.

20. A suction box for paper making machines comprising in combination, a plurality of abutting open top box sections, means for supportin and securing said sections together to orm the suction box, each box section comprising a plurality of spaced apart journal bearings extending in parallelism transversely thereacross adjacent to the open top thereof, the hearings in all sections being in alignment to form a plurality of continuous bearings extending entirely across the suction box, and a plurality of independently rotatable roller sections journalled throughout their lengths in each of said continuous bearings, the ends of adjacent roller sections being in abutment.

Ini Witness whereof I have hereunto set my han JOHN ARTHUR DICKINSON. 

